Plans for pedestrian bridge linking Gulch, SoBro released

Nashville's mayor has long said he wants to connect two of the hottest parts of town with a pedestrian bridge, and the city is now giving a first look at the plan.

With two tall pillars, a sweeping curve and LED lighting, the bridge connecting the Gulch to SoBro could make quite a statement, and that could be the point.

"I think it's a good thing to link them together to allow for people to move back and forth and to allow for each side to support the other and to connect the city together. That's a great thing for the city," said Mayor Karl Dean.

A conceptual plan for the 700-foot pedestrian bridge shows it would connect Pine Street in the Gulch to 10th Avenue and Lea just south of Cummins Station in SoBro, crossing above the CSX rail line.

"I think it's a great idea, because I work in one of the businesses down here and so it will just continue to allow us to have more customers and bring in people who weren't familiar with our store," said Gulch worker Danielle Haik.

The 30-foot-wide bridge, which would be open to walkers, runners and cyclists, could cost as much as $16 million.

Metro Council already approved the money in its most recent capital budget.

For Amber Stamm, who works downtown, the investment could make life downtown even better.

"It's less walking. More convenient," she said. "There's a lot of stuff over there. A lot of people don't even know what's over there. I didn't know until I walked over there. I mean, everything's growing, so I'm excited."

The project could begin in spring or summer 2014.

But the city still needs to work out the arrangement with CSX, the rail company.

With the money already set aside, that seems to be the project's biggest hurdle right now.

(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File). FILE - In this May 22, 2018 file photo, actor Morgan Freeman attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala in New York. Freeman is apologizing to anyone who may have felt “uncomfortable or disrespected” by his behavior....

Actor Morgan Freeman has apologized for making anyone feel uneasy, in the wake of a CNN report in which multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.More >>

Actor Morgan Freeman has apologized for making anyone feel uneasy, in the wake of a CNN report in which multiple women accused him of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior.More >>